Cordyceps militaris induces the IL-18 expression via its promoter activation for IFN-gamma production.
BACKGROUND
Cordyceps militaris, one of traditional herbal ingredient in oriental medicine, has been known to promote anticancer and immunomodulatory activities in vitro and in vivo. However, the biological mechanism of anticancer activity has been unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of Cordyceps militaris extract on expression of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) through interlukin-18 (IL-18) induction and its biological mechanism in vitro and in vivo.


METHODS
Mice were administrated orally with solution extracted from Cordyceps militaris. The transcription level of IL-18 and IFN-gamma production were measured by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. RAW 264.7 cells were transiently transfected with pCATp1 and pCATp2 for IL-18 promoter functional analysis.


RESULTS
Cordyceps militaris extracts treatment significantly induced level of IL-18 transcription in mouse brain and liver and enhanced IL-18 transcription level and activated the IFN-gamma production in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, Cordyceps militaris extract led to increase the activity of pCATp1 construct containing the 5' franking region of IL-18 promoter in RAW 264.7 cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Cordyceps militaris extract induced IL-18 mRNA level via enhancing of P1 promoter region result in activation of IFN-gamma production, indicating its potential as an immune activator or anticancer drug.
Kim
Chun Sung
CS
Oral Biology Research Institute and The second stage of BK21, Chosun University College of Dentistry, Gwangju 501-759, Republic of Korea.
Lee
Sook-Young
SY
Cho
Seon-Ho
SH
Ko
Yeong-Mu
YM
Kim
Byung-Hoon
BH
Kim
Heung-Joong
HJ
Park
Joo-Cheol
JC
Kim
Dong-Kie
DK
Ahn
Hoon
H
Kim
Byung-Ock
BO
Lim
Sung-Hoon
SH
Chun
Hong Sung
HS
Kim
Do Kyung
DK
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D032661:Cordyceps / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects*; D007120:Immunochemistry; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014162:Transfection
D020382:Interleukin-18; D007371:Interferon-gamma